JD Hydro 175 - no spark (new coil, still no spark)

[jpilk99]

Subject above pretty much tells the story. I've checked the ground strap next to engine block (cleaned it, tightened it on solidly). I cleaned the magnets on the fly wheel. Bought new coil (first time I ever encountered a new coil with not connector for the spark plug - but quickly figured out it was screwed on... took old one).

Nothing I do renders a spark. Not sure how to test an ignition coil - when I search the web, I get tons of people with vague processes. So if someone has a logical DIY to test an ignition coil, I'm very interested. There is a Kawaksaki FC420V OHV engine on here.

Thank you so much in advance - very frustrated by this one...

Jay

 

[Roadworthy]

If it's like an automobile ignition coil you need to ground the shell of it. An automotive coil will have two small terminals and the central high voltage terminal. Connect power to one of the two small terminals, usually marked +. Run a wire from the high voltage terminal to your spark plug. Ground the shell of your plug to the same ground as used on the shell of the coil. When the remaining terminal of the coil is grounded and then the ground removed you should see a spark at the gap of the spark plug.

 

[tomplum]

The majority of the 420s had an igniter which failed. You can buy the 80$ Deere one or a knock off, they seem to work. AM132770

 

[jpilk99]

If it's like an automobile ignition coil you need to ground the shell of it. An automotive coil will have two small terminals and the central high voltage terminal. Connect power to one of the two small terminals, usually marked +. Run a wire from the high voltage terminal to your spark plug. Ground the shell of your plug to the same ground as used on the shell of the coil. When the remaining terminal of the coil is grounded and then the ground removed you should see a spark at the gap of the spark plug.

I added a ground strap, (tested/confirmed ground), with no impact. Thanks though.

 

[TractorGuy]

Have you replaced the spark plug?

 

[jpilk99]

Have you replaced the spark plug?

Yessir. No change.

After reading Tomplum's comment, I took of the igniter and tested it and it failed the test. Ordered another for $9 and change - crossing fingers that that will do it.

I need to get better at testing ignition coils, (sadly, I don't know how to 'set' my new AstroA1 multimeter to a 20K range for ohms/resistance, but, if I could - then maybe I'd be able to actually test both the old and new coils - prove whether it is or isn't the igniter).

 

[Richard001]

I need to get better at testing ignition coils, (sadly, I don't know how to 'set' my new AstroA1 multimeter to a 20K range for ohms/resistance, but, if I could - then maybe I'd be able to actually test both the old and new coils - prove whether it is or isn't the igniter).

Did you read the user manual ?

 

[LittleBill21]

(sadly, I don't know how to 'set' my new AstroA1 multimeter to a 20K range for ohms/resistance,

https://imgur.com/VD8QsfV

 

[jpilk99]

Did you read the user manual ?

Yep. Garbage/confusing/unintelligible. I set the range select knob to the 'resistance' graphic of the ohm/something/arrow&plus/speaker(sound). Then it says to "Set the "Select" button to ___ range" where the same graphic is. There is no such setting when scrolling through the "Select" options once the range selector is on the same graphic.

 

[LittleBill21]

if this is the coil you bought, did you set the air gap?, and you do NOT want it grounded, there should a single wire that goes to it, with the key off, it goes to ground, which disables spark.

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